New British Layout -- Open to Feedback

[ocalicreek]

Rob,

The frustrations you are running into now, are the same I was discovering as I sketched some ideas for you. Barring an elevation change, it's a very limiting size and shape.

UNLESS you clearly define a theme or concept that works with tight curves and limited length. As mentioned previously, Rev. Awdry's landmark Thomas the Tank Engine layout (v.1) was a 4x6, essentially, but he incorporated staging behind a very low (20 cm?) 'backdrop' and essentially followed that classic brit op scheme, the small branchline station and community.

You are also encountering a similar dilemma to what I'm facing in my own garage...the desire to run longer and more varied equipment changes the parameters for planning. I could get steep twisty mountain grades with little mining towns and spectacular scenery OR mainline running in some sort of division point operating scheme, but NOT both in the same layout without serious compromise one way or the other, if such blending is even possible.

What you've got now really doesn't look bad at all other than the need you've already pointed out for more scenery. What's wrong with it that you want to see changed? What isn't it doing for you?

Galen

[RobertInOntario]

Rob,
The frustrations you are running into now, are the same I was discovering as I sketched some ideas for you. Barring an elevation change, it's a very limiting size and shape.
...
What you've got now really doesn't look bad at all other than the need you've already pointed out for more scenery. What's wrong with it that you want to see changed? What isn't it doing for you?
Galen

Thanks, Galen! Actually, (just to clarify), I am pleased with the result. I just need to fine tune it now, especially with the scenery, deciding if the location/angle of the street needs to be changed, where and what industries to choose. In creating a small, practical layout, you have to use your space really well. So I'm trying to let the layout's design (and limitations) dictate what type of operation and industries I could add.

I also see that there is room for me to add at least one more siding, so that will add more freight operations. I could also add a sort of fiddle yard where the siding is located in the foreground but I'd have to lengthen the layout by adding another 12-18". I could create a staging area there by adding 1-2 more sidings there. I won't do this just yet, I'm planning to test the layout out for awhile to get a feel for it. ... FYI, it's basically a miniature version of my 4x6 layout -- I'm definitely a creature of habit!

I hope your garage layout works out well and I'd be interested to see pics of that as it comes along. I also hope your recent move went well!

Take care,
Rob

[Will_Annand]

Robert, my only comment is one of personal taste.
If it were my layout, I would never put those long passengers on it, they just look so bad going around the tight curves.

As to the layout itself, I agree with Herc, it looks too flat. It is probably too late, but I would raise the track up and have some areas where the land is lower than the track and others where the land is higher than the track.

The track could stay level, but have the land vary.

Just my personal view.

[TinGoat]

Robert, my only comment is one of personal taste.
If it were my layout, I would never put those long passengers on it, they just look so bad going around the tight curves.

As to the layout itself, I agree with Herc, it looks too flat. It is probably too late, but I would raise the track up and have some areas where the land is lower than the track and others where the land is higher than the track.

The track could stay level, but have the land vary.

Just my personal view.

Hi Will,

It's not too difficult to achieve. Take a jig saw and cut along either side of the track and take a few chunks out of the base to create some low lands... Semi-cookie-cutter...

Rob will need some under framing to support the whole layout and keep is rigid.

[ocalicreek]

Here's a question - where do you put the layout when operating it?

If it's up high that might help since with even the lowest view block (line of trees, tall hedge row, walls, buildings, etc.) you can't see the whole thing at once.

Galen

[RobertInOntario]

Robert, my only comment is one of personal taste.
If it were my layout, I would never put those long passengers on it, they just look so bad going around the tight curves.

As to the layout itself, I agree with Herc, it looks too flat. It is probably too late, but I would raise the track up and have some areas where the land is lower than the track and others where the land is higher than the track.

The track could stay level, but have the land vary.

Just my personal view.

Thanks, Will. I haven't done the ballasting yet so it's not too late to vary the elevation. I haven't done this before so I'm leery of causing derailment areas, especially where the lines join.

Regarding the coach stock: Yes, I agree, especially when you see the coaches on the 15"R curves (but it's not so bad on the 18"R curves). One solution is to move the layout's time period back from the 1950s/60s to the 1920s/30s. If I go with the 1920s/30s, I could run some short 4-wheel coaches that were used then. I already have a couple of those (I could get a few more) and the freight stock could certainly be appropriate for then as well. I also have a few locos that would have been used in the 20s/30s so this could be a solution.

Thanks for this feedback!

Rob

[BR60103]

Rob: If you can find some of the original TriAng coaches from the 50s, they would look OK on short curves. Major problem is the early plastic used was unstable and many of them ended up banana shaped.
Take your wife to lunch or dinner at Mc R's -- if the restaurant is like the one in Winnipeg. It's a bit ritzy for just coffee, though.

[RobertInOntario]

Rob: If you can find some of the original TriAng coaches from the 50s, they would look OK on short curves. Major problem is the early plastic used was unstable and many of them ended up banana shaped.
Take your wife to lunch or dinner at Mc R's -- if the restaurant is like the one in Winnipeg. It's a bit ritzy for just coffee, though.

Thanks, David. I trust you mean Triang coaches that were made in the '50s OR Triang coaches that are models of 1950s coaches? I suspect the former ...
I'll try to pop into Mc R's this week then, and sure, it might be a good place to take my wife later on in the summer!

Take care,
Rob

[Will_Annand]

Thanks, Will. I haven't done the ballasting yet so it's not too late to vary the elevation. I haven't done this before so I'm leery of causing derailment areas, especially where the lines join.
Rob

Rob, you can acheive the varied look by modifying the elevation around the tracks. The tracks can be level, but the terrain around it can be above or below.

[RobertInOntario]

Thanks, Will. I haven't done the ballasting yet so it's not too late to vary the elevation. I haven't done this before so I'm leery of causing derailment areas, especially where the lines join.
Rob

Rob, you can acheive the varied look by modifying the elevation around the tracks. The tracks can be level, but the terrain around it can be above or below.

Thanks, Will. I'll probably try that to some extent. I have to keep the layout fairly flat for storage but I should still be able to add some variation.

Rob